[Freeradical]

A fellow musician friend (not a sax player) called me to ask if he should pick up this old sax for $25 at a garage sale. He sent a photo and I said sure, thinking this old Conn might be worth fixing up. To my surprise, it was in playable condition! Surely needs some adjustment and a couple of pads but played with a beautiful, warm, tone top to bottom as is! No dents or dings and lacquer mostly intact. It does not appear to be a lacquered horn. I've been a committed tenor and soprano player and therefore never learned much about alto models. All thoughts are welcome. I plan on bringing it to my tech for a complete going over. Serial #M271351A with the letter "T" or "I" below. Here's a photo.

 

[lydian]

Man, $25 is the score of the century on the famous "naked lady", 1936-ish. I can barely see one tone hole that looks rolled. That's at least a $1500-$2500 horn you've got there, possibly more. I'm extremely jealous ;-)

 

[theneighbordubh]

No microtuner? Odd for the serial number, no?

 

[datsaxman]

Yeh. Good saxophones indeed. I like mine!

 

[saxy82291]

These are the best! I have one a few years later than this and I wouldn't trade it for anything

Sent from my SM-G955U using Tapatalk

 

[Freeradical]

Thanks for the thoughts. It surely played sweetly even in it's imperfect condition. Really beautiful. It came with an old Conn mouthpiece. It says "Conn" above an engraving that appears to be an eagle with wings spread. Below that it says USA. Can't see any other markings. It plays like a fairly closed tip opening but very even. I'm surely used to a more open sort of mouthpiece but it might be worth getting good on that mouthpiece. Any thoughts about the mouthpiece.

 

[Kritavi]

[Q

 

[Freeradical]

Kritavi, your message didn't come through. I'd like to hear your thoughts.

 

[GaSax]

Definetly a great find for $25! I got a Conn Eagle Mouthpiece for my NW1 Alto and like it. It plays better with it than the Conn Steelay I got for it.

That letter below the serial number is probably an "L." L means "low pitch."

My NW1 also doesn't have the micro tuner. I've read that they were called a New York style neck?

 

[Freeradical]

What do you mean by 'micro tuner'?

 

[blaine hoopes]

They had a threaded piece on the end of the neck so you didn't have to push/pull the mouthpiece, you twisted the mechanism and the mouthpiece and cork moved in and out together

 

[Freeradical]

That micro tuner is very cool feature. I'd like to try that. The neck on my horn has a ring that encircles the neck very low. It has plug with a large diameter end cap that keeps the neck ring from getting damaged in the case.

 

[ScottReed]

Those are some of the best saxophones ever made. Nice find. The neck plug is neat also.
It’s worth over a grand as is. Nicely overhauled possibly over 2 grand. The neck is called a New York neck. Charlie Parker played on one with a New York neck.

 

[Freeradical]

Thanks so much for all the information about the horn. For the last hour or so I was just playing it and really digging it's warmth and sonic detail. I have a lot of knowledge about tenor and soprano mouthpieces.

Are there any suggestions for this horn? The Conn piece in that came in the case nice but the tip is way to closed for my comfort. On my tenor I tend to play about a .108+/- or so and 2.5 strength reeds (usually VanDoren Java). Suggestions?

 

[Mike T]

It's a Conn 6M (or a 6M transitional, i.e., becoming a 6M). In my not-so-humble opinion this was the best alto sax ever made. That you got it in playing condition for only $25 is incredible - the bargain of a century.

Your alto has a "New York neck" which was an option provided by the factory for those purchasers who, for whatever reason, didn't like the patented microtuner neck. It is infact a sought-after feature among "collectors" for its rarity - particularly if the protective neck plug has survived intact - as yours has !

The serial number you have quoted dates to 1936, which was fairly early in the 6M production run. As well as a photograph of the serial number area, I'd be interested to see a photograph of the LH little finger table and the RH thumb rest, to work out whether it's a full-blown 6M or whether it has a couple of transitional features which were altered in the final version of the 6M. If the G-sharp key has the pointed end facing the outside, and if the RH thumb rest is adjustable, it is in the last stage of transition to 6M. (These two features were altered in the final 6M iteration, but personally, I prefer the earlier version.)

As for the mouthpiece: keep the one that came with the horn (you can have it opened out by a mouthpiece technician), but also get yourself a modern HR mouthpiece. There are some good stock standard ones - one of the best is the Warburton D which I can highly recommend; it has a slightly fatter sound than the Meyer that many altoists like to use - but there are smaller mouthpiece makers who make an excellent personalised product, such as Phil-Tone and 10Mfan. Just make sure the one you get has a medium-large chamber.

I use Red Java 2.5 reeds myself on my own early 6M. As for tip opening, since you go for .108 on tenor, I'd say .080 or .085 should suit you on alto.

http://www.warburton-usa.com/index....48-d-series-hard-rubber-saxophone-mouthpieces

https://phil-tone.com/alto-gallery

https://10mfan.com/alto/

Congratulations ! And good luck with the mouthpiece search !

 

[Arundo Donax]

Good friends find saxophones for you.

Great friends find $25 saxophones for you.

 

[click]

Thanks so much for all the information about the horn. For the last hour or so I was just playing it and really digging it's warmth and sonic detail. I have a lot of knowledge about tenor and soprano mouthpieces.

Are there any suggestions for this horn? The Conn piece in that came in the case nice but the tip is way to closed for my comfort. On my tenor I tend to play about a .108+/- or so and 2.5 strength reeds (usually VanDoren Java). Suggestions?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/Peter-Ponz...487676?hash=item5daabd3efc:g:mkYAAOSwgdZe56aC

If I were in your case, I might get this Ponzol.

 

[milandro]

this new york neck and his double sleeved protector are a very rare find indeed

Lots of mouthpieces would fit and play well and necessarily boutique ones , I use a Selmer SA 80 E (this is the special thing) and it sounds great on many altos, including a 6M

 

[Sacks Of Phones]

Buy your friend a nice meal or something for finding this for you.

 

[milandro]

I think a week holiday somewhere is probably more in line with the value